Jenny's Moonlight Adventure

The Cat Club

by Esther Averill

At nine o'clock The Cat Club will convene to celebrate this wondrous Halloween night in Jenny's Moonlight Adventure . All the cats, from twins Romulus and Remus through to the wise Solomon, have been looking forward to this evening. The high point of the party is to be the nose flute performance by the Persian cat Madame Butterfly, but she has hurt herself, cannot leave her house, and has lost her instrument. The flute is found in a pile of autumn leaves but there's still the problem of how to return the flute to its beautiful Persian owner. Jenny comes up with a very adventurous plan. After all, Halloween is "her" night. But will she pull it off?

Genres: Childrens, Cats, Fiction, Animals, Halloween, Picture Books, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1949

About the author

Esther Averill (1902-1992) began her career as a storyteller drawing cartoons for her local newspaper. After graduating from Vassar College in 1923, she moved first to New York City and then to Paris, where she founded her own publishing company. The Domino Press introduced American readers to artists from all over the world, including Feodor Rojankovsky, who later won a Caldecott Award. In 1941, Esther Averill returned to the United States and found a job in the New York Public Library while continuing her work as a publisher. She wrote her first book about the red-scarfed, mild-mannered cat Jenny Linsky in 1944, modeling its heroine on her own shy cat. Esther Averill would eventually write twelve more tales about Miss Linsky and her friends (including the I Can Read Book, The Fire Cat), each of which was eagerly awaited by children all over the United States (and their parents, too).

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jenny Linsky, the shy black cat from Greenwich Village, finds that she must summon all her courage when a fellow member of The Cat Club loses her flute, and she is the only one who can retrieve it. Braving the terrors of Rob the Robber and his gang of dogs, Jenny sets out to do "the best she can..."

Accompanied by Averill's own charming illustrations, Jenny's Moonlight Adventure is a Halloween story that will have appeal for any child that has had to deal with bullies, and offers a gentle but inspiring story of friendship and loyalty. Recommended to young cat-lovers, and to anyone who has read and enjoyed other stories about Jenny Linsky and the Cat Club.

[Chris Browning · Rating 4 out of 5]

A more modest entry in the Cat Club canon, but still incredibly charming and lovingly written

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to be a witch riding down from the mountains of the moon.

(Also this was my fifth birthday present)

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenny, the brave little black cat in the red scarf, finds the courage she needs to help a friend.

It'd be unbearable if it weren't so cute and earnest.

Library copy

[PJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was four, my mother brought me over to the children's room in the library. I asked the librarian for cat books, and she found the Cat Club series. That afternoon, my mother read me the first story about Jenny, her human, the Captain, and Jenny's introduction to The Cat Club. That night, my father read the story to me. Each week, when my mother and I went to the library, I'd get another Cat Club book. It's been nearly sixty years, but the Cat Club Series is still a fresh memory.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saddened that Pickles is nowhere to be found in this installment.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nose flute?? So odd.

(If you are curious, check out the book!)

[Charlie Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went back and revisited this book from my childhood. The Cat Club books are so earnest and cute, and the illustrations are darling. The style of the book was much more dated than I remember it being...even though I read them in the early 2000’s and didn’t notice a problem. It is very reminiscent of the 50’s, which is when most of the books where published. It is still a charming book, however, and the lack of modernity might actually add to that.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another in The Cat Club series by Esther Averill. In this one Jenny risks everything to bring her friend Butterfly her precious nose flute! This is a very short story and once again, the illustrations are fabulous!

First Line: "On the night of Hallowe'en, the little black cat, Jenn Linsky, waited in the living room until the clock struck nine."

[Sara Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love Jenny Linsky! We had to borrow all the Esther Averill books after reading "Jenny and the Cat Club." This story is referenced in that title, and we enjoyed having the details filled in. Another great Jenny story!

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about a gang of a cat named Jenny Linsky who always wears a red scarf that her sea captain owner made for her who must brave a pack of vicious neighborhood dogs on Halloween. My rating - 3/5

[Shaunda Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leah (age 7)- Jenny's adventures is very adventurous because Jenny sometimes went to try to save her friend and get past some dogs and she made it.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some real oddness in this one, which made me happy.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

"This is Hallowe'en. This is my night. This is my moon," she decided. "I can make anyone believe anything."

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jenny the cat must conquer her fear of dogs AND think quickly in trying circumstances to help a friend.

[Cynthia Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esther Averill's books are so engaging. The illustrations are fantastic. Maya and I have read these over and over and over again.

[Jennifer Lahey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love Jenny's adventures!

[Zev · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute! I happily recognized lots of influences from TS Elliot's "Big Book of Cats". It's a quick, gentle read.

[Sprout Homeschooling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite. The writing shows its age.

[jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Omg cute.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming and imaginative

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jenny's Moonlight Adventure was originally published in 1949. It is part of a larger series of books starring Jenny and her friends. I did not like this book as well as The School for Cats. It is a Halloween adventure. Jenny must prove how brave she is both for herself and for her friends. She reluctantly accepts a job that only she can do. She is to carry a nose flute to a sick friend (another cat, of course). The job is "dangerous" because it requires her to be brave and clever enough to get past several unfriendly neighborhood dogs.

For readers who celebrate Halloween, this one might prove charming.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming portrayal of cats playing together and helping each other.

[Friend of Pixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Jenny Linsky books are so great. Logan loves cats and he's often shy or worried about danger, so Jenny is a great role model. She shy too and in most stories, she needs to overcome a fear or shyness. In this one, she has a major triumph and we cheered for her.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It has cats, Halloween, and my name. All good things. I read this in one sitting to Eva, because it is a small children's book and that is about all I have time for these days. We freaking love it. Illustrations are fantastic.

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a "report" on this from the third grade. I looking at it now, I remember vaguely the book and assignment I had to do.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice story for kids ages 4-6, especially introverted kids.

[Susan Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another sweet Jenny book that made for a wonderful read aloud. Jenny is a little unsure of herself, but manages to overcome that in order to the right thing by her friends.

[Kristyn]

January 2014. Boys, four and two. Meh.

[Suzanne LaFleur]

When I was a kid, the Jenny Linsky/Cat Club books were some of my favorites, among the first books I could read on my own. I'm loving re-reading them now.